Robbie Cato, automation specialist at Morrisons spoke with Robotics & Automation Magazine after choosing to be a judge for the Robotics & Automation Awards. He told us how his background informed his judging criteria…
Cato has a background in robotics and controls, with a focus on novel solutions and emerging technologies. He is an experienced engineer, proficient in embedded systems & control engineering.
Why did you choose to be a judge at the Robotics & Automation Awards 2024?
It was an honour just to be asked and I didn’t want to miss out on an opportunity to see the latest batch of cutting edge technology! I really try my hardest to stay up to date with emerging software and hardware solutions so being asked to judge was super cool.
Can you share your background in robotics and automation and how it has informed your judging criteria for the Awards?
Academically my background is in robotics, professionally my background is in automation – primarily in manufacturing. I’ve spent nearly a decade studying and working side by side, so I get to learn about emerging technologies and experimental automation solutions, but I also get a really good idea of what can actually be practically applied. When judging, I was looking for genuine innovation that addressed a real need in industry, but that also would succeed against the mundane hurdles of factory floors so to speak. The questions I asked were in relation to security (in more than one sense of the word), usability, practicality, and adaptability.
What does robotic and automation innovation mean to you?
Robotics and automation innovation to me is anything, no matter how small or large that takes an incremental step into a better world. I am head over heels in love with any idea that makes somebody’s day slightly better or easier.
What recent trends in robotics and automation have you found most exciting or impactful across different industries?
I’m really into digital twins at the minute. I’m developing solutions that are quite established like using digital twins to simulate machine states, but that also encompass better user engagement and predictive models. This is a big part of our long term sustainability goals so we’re looking into leveraging digital twins to reduce our energy usage.
How do you see robotics and automation transforming various industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture?
I think we’re going to see a lot more collaboration in the near future. Adoption of robotics is becoming more widespread in mature industries and the space between human and robot is getting smaller every year. It’s getting a lot more viable for a small enterprise to deploy a robot without the need of an onsite roboticist, but one remaining obstacle is how much trust people put in robots.
In your opinion, how will the role of judges in awards like this evolve as the fields of robotics and automation continue to advance?
A small amount of scrutiny is good for R&D, it challenges you and your product against scenarios you previously haven’t considered, and it hopefully steers you in the right direction. Although personally I found it hard to scrutinise, I was so excited to hear about all the fantastic technology being pitched.
Innovations and achievements in robotics across many sectors will be highlighted and celebrated at the second annual Robotics & Automation Awards on 06 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.roboticsandautomationawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable industry event – and to book your table!
